Coutinho scores as Barca enter Kings Cup final

"It's a special thing to reach a final and I am sure it will be a great game, but also a hard one, like all finals are". Sevilla beat Leganes 2-0 on Wednesday to go through 3-1 on aggregate.

"For me it is my first final, so it is a very special moment", Coutinho told Spanish TV station Gol. 'I was looking for the goal in the first few games and today I got it and, most importantly, helped the team reach the final'.

Valencia had lost their last three matches in a row but looked the more risky in the first half, with Rodrigo Moreno powering their best chance off the underside of the crossbar.

"Barca have been used to playing finals in recent years, but not so much in my case", said Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde, for whom the win came on the eve of his 54th birthday.

Philippe Coutinho broke the deadlock five minutes into the second half, tucking home at the back post following a cross from Suarez, 0-1 and 0-2 on aggregate.

At 0-0, striker Rodrigo headed against the crossbar before Jasper Cillessen produced a stunning instinctive save to deny full-back Jose Luis Gaya from point-blank range following Coutinho's opener.

Messi hit an effort just wide, and the closing stages of the first half saw Suarez miscue a shot inside the box, allowing Domenech to gather, before Valencia'sGeoffrey Kondogbia sent a shot into the side-netting having combined with Daniel Parejo.

According to Opta Stats, Luis Suarez assisted Philippe Coutinho's first Liverpool goal back in February 2013 and has done the same thing again, but this time for Barcelona.

Ivan Rakitic, also teed up by Suarez, then added the visitors' second in the 82nd minute to secure progress to a showdown against Sevilla in what will be defending champions Barcelona's fifth consecutive Copa del Rey final.

The only concern for Barca will be the sight of Pique in obvious discomfort after going off late on to be replaced by €11.8m man Yerry Mina, who made his debut.

49ers officially announce Jimmy Garoppolo extension
ESPN reported the contract will pay Garoppolo up to $90 million the first three years - another National Football League record. This Garoppolo deal impacts John Elway and the Broncos but I don't think it changes much in terms of what we already knew.

Wynn Resorts founder Steve Wynn steps down as CEO, chairman
Does it change your mind about visiting a Wynn casino? He parlayed that money into an investment in the Golden Nugget Casino. The business had revenue of $1.69 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.56 billion.

Super Eagles Unveil 2018 World Cup Kit
The Super Eagles are joined by Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia and Egypt in flying the flag for Africa at the 2018 World Cup. In case you haven't seen it, hear it here first: Nigeria's Super Eagles kit is incredibly handsome .

US Federal Shutdown at Hand, But Likely to Be Brief
The deal was announced Wednesday as a bipartisan breakthrough that could free Congress from an endless cycle of spending fights. In evening remarks on the Senate floor that lasted an hour, the senator from Kentucky said the bill would "loot the Treasury".

Google's hardware team absorbs Nest to co-develop products
Meanwhile, Google increased its own focus on the home with its line of smart-speakers, which compete with Amazon's Echo products. From connected light bulbs, to plant sensors, to smart locks, and beyond, smart home tech is growing and evolving rapidly.